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Oropharyngeal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)

Patient Version
Last Modified: 10/21/2011

Treatment Options by Stage

Stage I Oropharyngeal Cancer
Stage II Oropharyngeal Cancer
Stage III Oropharyngeal Cancer
Stage IV Oropharyngeal Cancer

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Stage I Oropharyngeal Cancer

Treatment of stage I oropharyngeal cancer may include the following:

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with stage I oropharyngeal cancer 1. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site 2.

Stage II Oropharyngeal Cancer

Treatment of stage II oropharyngeal cancer may include the following:

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with stage II oropharyngeal cancer 3. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site 2.

Stage III Oropharyngeal Cancer

Treatment of stage III oropharyngeal cancer may include the following:

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with stage III oropharyngeal cancer 4. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site 2.

Stage IV Oropharyngeal Cancer

Treatment of stage IV oropharyngeal cancer that can be treated by surgery may include the following:

Treatment of stage IV oropharyngeal cancer that cannot be treated by surgery may include the following:

  • Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy.
  • A clinical trial of chemotherapy with radiation therapy and/or radiosensitization.
  • A clinical trial of fractionated and/or internal radiation therapy.
  • A clinical trial of radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy.
  • A clinical trial of hyperthermia therapy with radiation therapy.

Following treatment, it is important to have careful head and neck examinations to look for recurrence. Check-ups will be done monthly in the first year, every 2 months in the second year, every 3 months in the third year, and every 6 months thereafter.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with stage IV oropharyngeal cancer 5. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site 2.



Glossary Terms

cancer (KAN-ser)
A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.
chemotherapy (KEE-moh-THAYR-uh-pee)
Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.
clinical trial (KLIH-nih-kul TRY-ul)
A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called clinical study.
external radiation therapy (...RAY-dee-AY-shun THAYR-uh-pee)
A type of radiation therapy that uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at the cancer from outside of the body. Also called external-beam radiation therapy.
fractionation (FRAK-shuh-NAY-shun)
Dividing the total dose of radiation therapy into several smaller, equal doses delivered over a period of several days.
hyperthermia therapy (HY-per-THER-mee-uh THAYR-uh-pee)
A type of treatment in which body tissue is exposed to high temperatures to damage and kill cancer cells or to make cancer cells more sensitive to the effects of radiation and certain anticancer drugs.
internal radiation therapy (in-TER-nul RAY-dee-AY-shun THAYR-uh-pee)
A type of radiation therapy in which radioactive material sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters is placed directly into or near a tumor. Also called brachytherapy, implant radiation therapy, and radiation brachytherapy.
radiation therapy (RAY-dee-AY-shun THAYR-uh-pee)
The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called irradiation and radiotherapy.
radiosensitization (RAY-dee-oh-SEN-sih-tih-ZAY-shun)
The use of a drug that makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.
recurrence (ree-KER-ents)
Cancer that has recurred (come back), usually after a period of time during which the cancer could not be detected. The cancer may come back to the same place as the original (primary) tumor or to another place in the body. Also called recurrent cancer.
stage (stayj)
The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.
stage I oropharyngeal cancer (... OR-oh-fuh-RIN-jee-ul KAN-ser)
Cancer is 2 centimeters or smaller and is found in the oropharynx only.
stage II oropharyngeal cancer (... OR-oh-fuh-RIN-jee-ul KAN-ser)
Cancer is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 4 centimeters and is found in the oropharynx only.
stage III oropharyngeal cancer (... OR-oh-fuh-RIN-jee-ul KAN-ser)
Cancer is either (1) 4 centimeters or smaller; cancer has spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller; or (2) larger than 4 centimeters or has spread to the epiglottis (the flap that covers the trachea during swallowing). Cancer may have spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller.
stage IV oropharyngeal cancer (... OR-oh-fuh-RIN-jee-ul KAN-ser)
Stage IV oropharyngeal cancer is divided into stages IVA, IVB, and IVC. In stage IVA, cancer (1) has spread to the larynx, front part of the roof of the mouth, lower jaw, or muscles that move the tongue or are used for chewing. Cancer may have spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller; or (2) has spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the tumor (the lymph node is larger than 3 centimeters but not larger than 6 centimeters) or to more than one lymph node anywhere in the neck (the lymph nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller), and one of the following is true: (1) tumor in the oropharynx is any size and may have spread to the epiglottis (the flap that covers the trachea during swallowing); or (2) tumor has spread to the larynx, front part of the roof of the mouth, lower jaw, or muscles that move the tongue or are used for chewing. In stage IVB, the tumor (1) surrounds the carotid artery or has spread to the muscle that opens the jaw, the bone attached to the muscles that move the jaw, nasopharynx, or base of the skull. Cancer may have spread to one or more lymph nodes, which can be any size; or (2) may be any size and has spread to one or more lymph nodes that are larger than 6 centimeters. In stage IVC, the tumor may be any size and has spread beyond the oropharynx to other parts of the body, such as the lung, bone, or liver.
surgery (SER-juh-ree)
A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.
tonsil (TON-sil)
One of two small masses of lymphoid tissue on either side of the throat.

Table of Links

1http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?Diagnosis=40133&tt=1&a
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2http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials
3http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?Diagnosis=40135&tt=1&a
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4http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?Diagnosis=40136&tt=1&a
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5http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?Diagnosis=40137&tt=1&a
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